30 Things Every Man Should Have

1. good wine glasses
2. nose hair trimmers
3. a vase
4. a bottle of good bubbly on hand
5. black jeans
6. a bathing suit - in plain black
7. a hardcover dictionary (bonus points for a thesaurus)
8. a black suit
9. needle and thread
10. extra shoelaces
11. white well tailored shirt
12. black and brown cream shoe polish
13. cedar shoe trees
14. a great set of knives
15. a blender
16. top coat that comes below the knees
17. a bottle of wine ready for a last minute dinner invite
    
18. extra deodorant and shirt/sweater in the car, locker, or bag
19. cuff links
    
20. a big umbrella you can use like a walking stick
    unbreakable umbrella by Real Self Defense
    
21. wooden hangers (including pant hangers)
22. a belt where the prongs go through the third hole
23. sturdy garlic crusher
24. serving bowls that don't look like mixing bowls
25. hand cream
26. boxers and briefs
27. black silk knit tie
28. calling card on the heaviest stock - seriously stand out
    
29. extra sheets
    
30. a sense of humour

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Not a new idea but a good idea

I started my menswear label after being continually asked (of my vintage clothing) if I, 'had another one in a different size'. <-- I know, strange question.

Being of an entrepreneurial spirit I asked myself, 'Where could I get the same vintage thing in numerous sizes and in large quantities?', and so began my label.

If you know how to upholster, have cash flow, are well connected and entrepreneurial and have the resources (me) you'll know where I'm going with this post.

old bus signs on a wing back at Atelier Abigail Ahern by DavidmetNicole

vintage sofa and 60s and 70s fabrics at Bokja

old truck tarps (think Freitag) at Bobo

bison

vintage Union Jack flag

vintage silk scarves at Suzann Fellman

The winner is...

Gray C. of NYC! Congrats Gray. The cuff links are very cool - especially the oval ones.

** PS I found another great men's giveaway last weekend so watch for it in the New Year.

Quote of the Week - Hardy Amies

Never wear shorts except at water's edge.

Vintage Kimberly

1970

15 tips that could save your life

Being somewhat of a conspiracy theorist I always expect the worst and am therefore prepared for the worst - it's really simple logic but that's another blog post. If you're heading out for an hour ramble in the car or a 12 hour hike in the back country be prepared. I've been known to turn around on hikes with friends that sporadically become a little longer than what we're prepared for. Better safe than sorry.

1. Bring a compass, GPS, or map (in water proof bag). Pay attention to the sky - know how to read the sun and the stars - I'm not referring to astrology here.
   
2. Light - headlamp, or flashlight with extra batteries and bulb.
3. Expect snow - even in the summer.
4. Bring extra clothes - layer, get some waterproof clothing, invest in fibres that wick the moisture off your body. Waterproof clothing can be expensive. I've found quite a lot of it in thrift stores. Try there first. Water repellent and water proof are different. Extra socks and gloves in your bag.
   
5. Sunglasses
6. Pocketknife - I have the Victorinox Swiss Arm Camper knife. It's indispensable. I love this knife and never leave out on a trip without it.
   
7. Extra water - yes, it can be heavy when you're hiking but it's paramount to your survival. I'll tote a few extra ounces if it could save my life. Make sure your companions have their own. You don't want to end up like a those dudes in the Western movies laying in the desert with only one canteen and the last drop.
   
8. Extra food - energy bars, nuts, dried fruit
9. Tell someone where you're going - leave a note in your car, on your Facebook status, voice mail
10. Firestarter (flint) and candle
11. Matches in a waterproof bag
12. First aid - keep it stocked. You should have one in your car, one in your house and a compact one you carry with you. Even better - make a New Years Resolution to take a First Aid course.
    
13. Cell phone - I only have a Pay As You Go and load it when I'm going on a road trip or hike.
14. Set out early - in the winter months it gets dark as early as 3:30 - you'll get disoriented once the sun goes down.
15. Never go down a gully - I was lost for hours after I stupidly went down a gully while snowboarding on Big White. I finally ended up on a logging road. Thankfully, it was still light out and the cougar tracking me was only in my mind - I hope.

Style Inspiration: Terence Stamp

Vintage Halston

Andy Warhol for Halston - 1982

Quote of the Week - Shawn Ashmore

Style is a reflection of your attitude and your personality.

8 Winter Coats Styles for Men

(l) vintage Guards Lounge Lizard for similar
(r) vintage Rice

(l) Rick Owens F/W 09
(r) vintage Gloverall duffle

(l) vintage military parka
(r) Burberry short trench F/W 09

(l) Lounge Lizard
(r) Krane F/W 09

Kiss Me to the Happiest Times

It's a perfect day when you're snooping around on the web and find something that excites you. Much reminisce of sitting on the floor in my bedroom in 1985 thumbing through Star Hits magazine (I won a t-shirt after telling them I had no cool clothes because I lived in Langley) and playing through records I just picked up after a two hour bus ride downtown to Odyssey with Dave - and his blue mohawk - they were separate entities you see.

Ahh, what a glorious day yesterday was - sashaying down the aisles of Safeway - like the crazy lady I am - as Kiss Me by Stephen Tin Tin Duffy (Hi Chris!) sparkled out of the tinny speakers, waking up to a bright pink sunrise in the east while a huge full moon still hung in the west (how New Age is that?), coming home to some wonderful reader comments and then discovering this Swedish guy - Little Big Adventure. I like his voice, the keyboards, the tempo and the ukulele guy's hair and tie knot. Music to make love to under a bright pink morning sky with a full moon hanging in the west? Why not! After all, yesterday was a Stephen Tin Tin Duffy kind of day.


Appropriately titled Happiest Times

Vintage Charles James

1934

Men's Christmas Gift Giving Survival Guide

Yes, yes, of course, it's the thought that counts. My husband and I always say we're not getting each other gifts, but we usually buy each other one anyway. One year, I didn't get him one, but he got me one—even though we made the no-gift pact—did I ever feel bad? Now, we have a no-gift-buying pact budget.

Here are some tips to help you survive the unwrapping on the 25th.

1. If you don't know her size - receiving a size smaller is always better than receiving a size larger - except with bras.
2. I used to work in a lingerie shop. Apparently, a lot of women wear a size 34A around Christmastime. Chances she's about the size of the associate assisting you, 1:10.Chances she's a 32DD, 1:20. We usually keep our bras in the top right-hand drawer. Check the tag. It's on the back and has one number and either one or two letters. Look by the hooks - it'll read 32A, B34, C36 etc. Don't you dare buy her a size large underpants - even if she is. If you are buying her lingerie, buy her stuff she would wear, not necessarily the stuff you want her to wear - she'll buy that on her own and surprise you one night because she's so happy with the gift you gave her.
   
3. Surprise her by wrapping the gift yourself. To be extra cute, put a little ribbon on it and stick a pine cone on top.
   
4. Don't buy her any type of appliance - that includes a hair dryer. That's what the parents buy her.
5. Don't buy her a knockoff of anything. Is she cheap? No. Then don't make her look cheap. If you can't afford it, don't buy it. She knows how much it costs and whether or not you can afford it. If you can't, she'll be upset and probably want to take it back.
   
6. Receiving a gift card is like getting a stack of scratch and wins from Grandma.
7. You can never go wrong with classic jewelry. A simple gold or silver bangle, her favourite stone in a pendant or stud earrings, gold or silver hoop earrings, a gold or silver chain - longer ones are a safer choice as the short ones can be too tight around the neck and look silly if she decides to add a pendant to it later. If you buy the chain, go for the style that has a matching bracelet. You can get that for her for Valentine's Day. Beware of buying jewelry just because it's a particular name brand. You're usually paying more for the name and the quality isn't necessarily better, it may even be inferior.
   
8. Please make sure you get the return policy.
   
9. Start thinking now. Look for hints:
   

What magazines does she buy? A subscription as a stocking stuffer?
Does she take baths? How about a big gift basket of bath smellies from Lush and a set of candles small enough to be put around the edge of the tub?
What about chocolates? Well, we usually love them but will be irked if we get them because we'll eat them - all - in one day because out of sight out of mind! Then we'll be mad at you.
Ask her friends - it'll make you look good.

Quote of the Week - Bette Davis

Old age is no place for sissies.

How to Wear a Hat

Hats and suits that fit with those little added touches to make it all that much better.


A few posts back, I mentioned my dislike of the undersized fedora.
The undersized fedora is the one you see those - 'dudes,' let's call them - wearing in Hollywood. Personally, I think they look like Fozzie Bear.

The other night, I saw a gentleman standing in the rain in a long black overcoat and a perfectly fitted hat. Boy, did he look sharp. I pointed him out to my husband, and he asked me why I thought he looked so sharp. Well, both his hat and his overcoat fit him properly and were very flattering for his figure type. Henceforth, this post is on hats.

The first step to wearing a hat is to measure your head. Take a measuring tape and wrap it around your head just above your ears. Take a look at the chart below. The average man's hat size is 7 1/4 US.



Deciding which hat style suits you:

Don't worry; I won't post any pictures of Johnny Depp.
First, you have to know your face's shape and if it has any significant facial features, such as a long nose or prominent jaw. Ask someone else to tell you.

1. Deep full face - Wear a medium height full crown hat, narrow to medium width band and a wide brim snapped fully across. Slight side tilts are good. Avoid wearing the hat too far back, both too high and too low crowns and tapered crowns.
   
2. Short full face - Wear a medium crown hat with a slight taper, contrast hat band and wide brim. Avoid full crown hats, extreme tapers, extreme snaps or tilts and matched hat bands.
   
3. Long Slender face - Wear a tapered moderate-height crown, wide hat band and moderate-width brim. A side tilt with a back tilt looks good. Avoid wide turned-up brims and brims that are too narrow.
   
4. Square face - Wear a medium-full crown that is rounded with a full snap wide brim. Side tilts look good on a square face. Avoid tapered and square crowns, short snaps, and wearing the hat too far back on your head.
   
5. Pear Shaped face - Wear a full crown with a matching hat band and extra-wide brim snapped fully across. Avoid narrow brims and tapered or low crowns.
   
6. Top Heavy face - Wear a medium height tapered crown with a narrow or medium width band. The brim should be medium wide with a good roll. Avoid wearing the hat too far back off the face. Colorful or wide hat bands are not recommended.
   
7. Short Slender face - Wear a low or medium taper crown with a turned up brim. A contrast band looks good with a low crown, and a matched band looks good with a taper crown. Avoid everything that gives too much attention to the hat. Avoid full crowns, high crowns with self bands or a snap brim too far over the face.
   
8. Long Nose - Wear a crown of medium height that's not too tapered or pinched too tight at front. Tilt the hat to the side. Avoid a high taper crown and a very narrow brim.
   
9. Heavy Eyebrows - Can wear most hats. Turned up brims look good. If you have a unibrow wear a hat with a wide brim and low front tilt to cover it.
   
10. Prominent Jaw - Wear a moderately low crown with a slight taper and medium brim. Avoid an oversized crown and big brim, small crown and brims, and wearing the hat too far back.
    
11. Receding Chin - Wear a low crown with a slight taper to balance off the chin. The brim can be medium-sized or flat. Avoid high full crowns, extreme brims, snap brims and tilting the hat too far forward or too far backward.
    
12. Big Ears - Wear the widest flat brim your face can handle to make ears look smaller. Avoid turned up brims, narrow brims and tapered brims.
    

Right and wrong pics are available on the the Miller Hats site.